The visitors arrived in Essex with an already depleted squad as Joe Healy was ruled out through a suspension, however the Wings were forced into a late change to their line-up as player-manager Jamie Coyle was forced out through illness – leaving Harry Phipps to take the vacant starting position.

The late shake-up to the team left Welling vulnerable in a 3-4-2 formation that they lacked confidence in and the Clarets exploited this weakness explicitly. When Davies received the ball 25-yards out he looked up to see Wings ‘keeper Ryan Sandford off-his-line and – despite the visiting shot-stopper getting a hand to it – the City midfielder’s long-range effort flew into the bottom corner.

Four minutes later City doubled the lead. Bagasan Graham’s quick throw-in found Davies who took a touch before firing a cross into the box where Daley appeared unmarked to volley beyond Sandford from a yard.

Having been two ahead after just six minutes, the Clarets continued to press for more goals as Sandford mustered a save to Dickson’s weak header after the Chelmsford striker poked agonisingly wide.

A clever attacking move down the left flank allowed Graham to burst into space however his cross lacked accuracy and was cleared for a throw-in. Welling had a rare chance of their own to net when a right-wing cross was swung into the box, however Elliot Omozusi nodded the danger away.

Jack Jebb’s curling freekick from the edge-of-the-box forced Sam Beasant into an acrobatic save, soon afterwards the hosts were back on the attacking foot as Dickson glanced Daley’s cross past the post.

The hosts had loud calls for Conor Dymond to be dismissed as the game reached the half-hour mark. Dymond lunged into a challenge on Oyenuga and, after the whistle was blown for a foul, the defender then kicked the ball away – both of which are bookable offences – however only a yellow card was brandished by Whistler Gerry Heron.

Anthony Church’s clever turn on the spot allowed him to find space inside the box but his shot was deflected away, Chris Smith then played a smart one-two with the midfielder before striking although his effort was denied by a low save by Sandford.

However, the Clarets’ increase in pressure led to City getting their third goal of the afternoon on 38 minutes. Having taken control of Daley’s throw-in, Oyenuga weaved his way through a number of Welling defenders before sending a right-footed shot across Sandford and into the bottom left corner.

Oyenuga’s strength and pace continued to trouble Jamie Coyles’ men and almost led to Jack Parkinson being dismissed for a dangerous challenge from behind, however only a yellow card was displayed for the Wings player.

City could have had a fourth goal before the interval when Smith passed inside to Spillane, however the defender struck air rather than the ball. Dickson then touched a long ball over his marker in added time, but his volleyed effort flew wide.

Coyle’s first attempt at resurrecting the result was shown at half-time as the Wings reverted back to a familiar 4-4-2 formation before introducing Jeffery Monkana for Phipps after 56 minutes and then Christian Nanetti was brought on for Dymond after an hour had been played.

Oyenuga did well to round his man before fizzing a shot towards goal, however his well-hit strike was saved by Sandford.

But any chance of a comeback was well and truly buried when Dickson grabbed City’s fourth goal. Davies played a quick free-kick to Oyenuga who touched the ball back to the midfielder, a pass inside to Dickson allowed Johnson to find space before returning to Dickson who nestle a shot around Sandford and into the far corner.

Three minutes later the Wings were awarded a penalty as Spillane was caught out on the edge-of-the-box and fouled his man. Goldberg stepped up and calmly fired past Beasant to grab a consolation goal for the visitors.

Substitute Monakana attempted to grab Welling a second goal in second-half added time when he shot from distance, however his long range effort summed up Welling’s dire performance as the Clarets stormed to a comfortable victory ahead of the Christmas double-header against Braintree Town.